Coke-wharf.



c, K.--BALD'W|N. COKE WHAHF.

APPLICATIONHLED MAY 12. 19.15.

Patented D6010, 1918. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. K. BALDWIN.

COKE WHABF. APPLICATION HLED MAY s2. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wane/mu: 3 wuawlio cz so thickness of the bed of coke will vary from ffive to six feet, in thecenter, to from one to two ,feet' at'theupper edge. In the car, ow'- of the latter, the mass of STATES PATENT OFFICE.

stunner. n. nannwm, or cnicaeo, ILLINOIS, Assmnon 'ro norms convnrme mam comment, A conrona'non or new mnsnr.

coxn-wnanr.

Specification of Letterslstent Patented Dec; 10, 191 8.

' Application filed ma 12, 1915. Serial nearest.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CLARENCE K. BALD- WIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, county of Cook', and State of 'Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coke-Wharves, of whichr the ollowing' is a description.

This invention-has reference to means for handling coke, and relates particularly to coke. wharves and adjuncts'th'ereto capable of handling and disposing of'the. coke accordin :to the most" approved and modern metho s.

It should u' 'derstoo d'that the coke is usually 'pushedifromthe ovens into a can with inclinedfbottom, said can having. side doors hinged at'the top so'that they may .be swung outwardly to enable the coke-to slide- .outof the car into hoppers provided for its reception The coke is usually quenched in the" car by streams of water poured upon the surface of 'themass. In

' the manufacture ofco'ke' itis a desideratum ing to the sha the least water, while, at the top 'of the in-.

to apply just sufiicient water to the 'massto 'coolfit, and-then allow the coke to air-cool cars-are. arranged in a series-approximately thelength of the car, and in the hoppers the coke is unequa ly quenched, that portion of the mass near the door of the car receiving clined portion, the mass receives thev most water on account of the difi'erence .in .the' 0 thickness of the mass. The unquenchedfportionsofjcoke, when the mass is delivered .from the car to the hoppers, is in the lower part .of the latter, so that, in order to quench the same it becomes necessary to overquench the mass of coke surrounding the hot par- ,ticles, it being, of course, understood to be impossible to quench the hot particles from the "bottom. Th1s necessary additional quenching in the hoppers has a tendency to increase the- Y .much beyond-the commercial limits. The

".coke infthe hoppers, owing to the shape of percentage of moisture in the mass of coke to the latter, will not coolevenly, since the 'mass is of different thicknesses or depths at different places in the hoppers.

With .my construction, I have overcome the various. objections noted in 5 the foremass of coke de ivered from the quenching cars may be. spread and exposed for cooling 1n an approxlmately uniform layer over a wharf specially provided and constructed forits reception, so that theimass will cool evenly by having a maximum area thereof exposed to the air; to 'so dispose the mass of coke, ejected from the cars, as to cause the hot particles of coke to become exposed, so as to enable them to be cooled without adding a surplus of water 'to particles 'already cooled; to provide simple and effective means for transferring coke from the wharf to a conveyer or vehicle disposed. in

proper cooperative relation to. the wharf; to 'provlde a means by which, as the mass of going, and, specifically, the following may. be notedas among the-important objects of my lnvention' to provide means by which the coke is delivered under control from the wharf, it -may be evenly. distributed on the conveyer or vehicle, so as to provide for un1form' delivery of the mass to the screening mechanism; to provide means by whichthe operator may control the delivery of the mass to the conveyer or vehicle,- so that; in

arranged in manner such as to give the op-. ..eratorabsolute ,control'over the mass I of,

coke delivered from the quenching cars and while it is in transit. to the conveyer or vehereinafter described hide, and by which means the several ob- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a coke wharf embodying the features of my invention, some ofthe mechanisms thereof being" shown in elevation; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a section of the coke wharf showing parts in section, and

illustrating the controlling gates, I rotary feeders, and a form of conveyer or vehicle arranged in coeperative relation.

It should be understood that the'units constituting my invention may be arraingedin:

definitely, end to end, and in cotiperative operative relation .to a corresponding length 'orsec'ti'on of wharf and 'conveyer or vehicle.

Referring to the drawings,- the numera'l'l indicates the trench or pit in which the conveyer, feeder a'ndcontroller are disposed'in cooperative relation and' from which the wharf 2 is extended. 'Theltrenchis preferably a cement or masonryconstruction,

and is of such dimensions as to give ample space for the various apparatus employed and for the operatives to work in. From one side of the trench the wharf 2 isextended upwardly at an inclination fofapproximately thirty degrees, althopgh this inclination may begreater orless according to conditions. The upper edge of theinclmed ,wharf terminates at the'vertical wall 3 beside which the railroad 4 isfconstructed, on which the quenching cars- 5 travel. As shown in Fig. 1, the 'cars have the inclined bottoni'G with swingingrgates- .7, the; dotted line portion indicating-the open position of thegates forfdischarging the coke upon-the wharf. v

The foundation of -,tl e-.wharf is, preferably, of cement lor-m'asonry, and the surface of the wharf has embedded thereinrails or .ture'being also renderedremovable andreplaceable at will. -The upper plate '9 is held bars; or I-beams, indicated at 8,-these beams being of structural iron. and having their 'top flange 'or head exposed above the. sur face off the wharf, so as' toprovide parallel rails} or -supports extending lengthwise of the wharf for supporting the metal plates 9,

which are arranged in overlapped relation the one to the other. Theplates 9' are provided at their-upper ends with depending flanges IO-adapted to hook over the heads of thejbeams 8 andthus be retained in po'- sition: and prevented from sliding down with the mass of coke; and by this struce by its flange in ootiperatlve relation with an angle iron or beam-11 permanently secured to the upper .edge of the wharf, as by bolts embedded in the structure of'the wharf.

The lower plates 9 are extended over the' lower edge or face of the' wharf, so .as to overlap the top member 12 of a guard wh1ch coeperates with the'rotary-feeder and prevents the coke from dropping into the pit 1 below the apparatus contained therein. This guard is composed of cast-iron, preferably, and, at its front wall 13, is made to conform to the curvature of the feeder, and, at its bottom, is secured by its flange 14 to one of more cross-beams 15 connected to uprights 16 suitably secured to the bottom of the pit',

the cross-beams 15 being embedded in the walls of the pit, at their ends, so as to provide firm support therefor.

The beams 15 support journal bearings 17, see Fig. 2, for a shaft 18, which is any length desired and which extends lengthwise of the wharf within the pit and just below the lower end of the wharf. The shaft has mounted thereon, and fixed thereto, the series of rotary feeders 19 comprising hollow cylinders having longitudinal, parallel vanes or flanges 20 providing between them a series of pockets or receptacles 21 for the coke as it slides from the wharf onto the guard 12, under the control of the operator. The shaftv 18 at one, or both, ends. may be provided with a driving sprocket-wheel 22 driven by a chain from a motor, not shown, it being understood that, for the purposes of. my invention, the sprocket-wheel '22 shall be considered the driving means for the rotary feeders, The" adjacent ends of the feeders 19 are covered by the end guards 23 which, at one end,'as shown in Fig. 1, cotiperate with, and may be securely attached to, the guard 12, and, at the other 1 ends, coeperate with, and may be secured .to, the supporting beams 15, these end guards having the function of protecting the bearings of the shaft 18 and preventing particles "of coke, dust, grit, etc., from falling between the .ends of the feeders, as will be readily understood. The end guards 23 are provided with brackets 24 affording bearings for the pivots 25 of controlling gates arranged, as shown in the drawings, end to end, or in series lengthwise of the wharf and in number corresponding to thefeed-drums, a gate and drum constituting aunit in'my invention which maybe extended along the wharf indefinitely.

' The controlling gates are formed'preferably of the end frame members 26 connected together in pairs in triangular or substantially A-form, one of the members being, at

each end of the gate, extended as indicated at 27 and having earsor bearings applied thereto in which a' hand-rod 28 is securely set so as to be grasped by the operator to manipulate the gate. Another of the frame members, at each end of the gate, is extended as at 29 and the .said'extensions' being' weighted as at 30, the weight of which substantially counterbalances the weight of the gate overhanging the feeder, as shown in Fig; 1, thus rendering it easy for the op- ,erator to manipulate the gate. Anotherof the: frame members at opposite ends of the gate, is extended as at 31, the two said extensions being connected by an' angle iron 32, to which the upper ends of a series of gate-bars or fingers 33 .are rigidly, but removably, connected, the lower endsofsaid fingers being connected by the angle irons 34 at the inner end or angle ofthe ate structure. The lower ends of the gatears or fingers 33 are preferably outwardly bent,- as shown at 35, so as to rest upon the surface of the guard member 12 and form therewith an acute angle. -The gate-bars or fingers 33 are arranged as closely together as, desired and in parallelism on the gate-frame, the

, arrangement, however, being such as to prevent the particles of coke or'other material from passing between adjacent bars. Normally, the gate will rest, as shown in Fig. 1, 'with the lower ends 35 of its bars or fingers in engagementwith. the guard 12, andthe mass coke sliding down the inclined wharf will, of course, have a tendency to maintain'this normal position of the gates.

The counterbalancing weights 30, however, will render it easy for the operator, with very little downward pressure or pull at 28, to open the individua desired and as quickly asmay be needed.

The operator, to manipulate the gates,

. walks along the platform 36, which may be composed of any suitable material and supported, by the cross-beams 15, the wall of the pit, atone side, protecting the operator, and the rail or fence 37 at the other side prevent-' ing the o erator from accidentally falling into the pit wherethemachinery is located,

the said rail or fence being composed of up-' rights 16 and top bar or rail 38 connectingthe same. p

, .The coke sliding down the wharf 2, and received by the feeder 19, .under control of the gate 26, is'dep'osited upon a 'conveyer or vehicle ofany form desired, the one adopted by me being preferable because -of its simplicity and capacity. 'This conveyer consists of an endless belt, the upper run 39 I 1 of which issupported on, and troughed by,

the well-known Robins five-pulley troughing idlers 40, the supporting brackets of which are bolted to the cross-beams 41 on the longitudinal .beams 41 which are supported in any suitable manner by'the uprights 16. The lower run 42 of the conveye-r-belt travels over idlers 43, journaled.

in the brackets 44 on the longitudinal beams. .This belt-conveyer, at its ends or centers., encircles driving drums of usual construction, which are well-known and unnecessary to be shown in the drawings; but, it should be understood that, in the claims, where the conveyer is mentioned, and unless otherwisespecified, positive means are intended to be included for actuating the conveyer, regardless of the means or the charless evenly distributed; The hottest gates to any extent acter oftheconveyer'. Preferablfithe trend of this conveyeris parallel to the length of; the wharf and the series of units, this ar-- rangement, necessarily economiz'ing space I I and producing-compactness of structure. It

is to beunderstood, however, that, in the' claims where a conveyer is referred to, and

unless otherwise specified, any form of movable vehicle adapted to. coiiperate with the feeders in the relation and positions indicated isintended to be includedand. com; prehended by my invention. a

From the foregoing, the mode of opera- 1 tion of my coke wharf will be readily-understoodin connection with the following The coke, usually quenched primarily inthe car 5, is conveyed to the wharf, and, when the cars are in proper position for dischar gates 7 thereof are swung open (see otted mes, Fig. 1) thus.discharginthe-contents from'the inclined bottoms 16 ofthe' cars onto the plates 9 of the inclined wharf 2. The coke will slide down the wharf into/engage ment with the gate-bars or fingers, d, in

sodoing, will automatically become more or arti cles of the mass contained in the cars eing at the bottom, will necessarily be first dis charged uponthe Wharf and. exposed to the cooling effects of the air and will slide down into engagement with the gate-bars. In this 4 position the hot particle's areexposed and may readily be'quenched with a small hose through the gate-bars. The rest of the mass may also be sprinkled, if desired, and the water will naturally. drain off down the.

inclined surface of the wharf, thus, by grav- 'ity, removing the greater percentage of moisture. The conveyor and the feeder being in operation, the gate, under control of the operator, will be raised to the desired I extent and" the coke permitted to slide down the guard-member 12 into a receptacle 21 0f the rotary-feeder, the filling of this'feeder being obviously; under control of the operator, so that over-feeding and spilling are revented. By the rotation of the feeder mthe direction of the arrow a. Fig. 1, the

.speed of the said feeder and the speed of form and continuous layer upon the conveyer and carried away, as required. As one unitsectron of the wharf s cleared of coke. the

gate-is returned tonormal position and the operator walks alon to the next unit, opens the gate and clears t 1e wharf at this section or unit, this being continued and the opera- 1 tions repeated until the entire length ofthe.

Isa

wharf is cleared'of coke.

If the feeding is progressing too rapidly, control thereof is had by manipulation of the gates and thereby the deposit-of coke in thereceptacles of the feeders is controlled, as is also the amount passing to the conveyer-s. This is extremely important, since, if the coke is conveyed to the screens uniformly and continuously, the best results can be obtained. Otherwise, non-uniform screening is liable "to result, thus mixing the different classes and sizes of coke. It may bethat the speed of the'rotary feeders at any given time may be such as to give a greater throw to particles ofthe coke than is necessary to deposit the same in substantially the center of the conveyer 39, orrthe quantity deposited at any time may be such as to cause the top particles of themass'to roll toward the edges of the conveyer. To prevent. such particles from rolling off the conveyer at either edge thereof, I have provided inclined guards extending along one edge of the conveyer between, and supported by, ;the beams 15 and at the opposite side 1 v'eyer.

In the drawings I have shown the conveyer, feeder-drum, controllin gates, and other cooperating partsdispose in a trench or pit 1, and I have found that this disposition and construction are very satisfactory;

but, I desire it understood that the entire wharf structure may be built upon the flat, or hillsand' embankments may be taken advantage of, as will be readily understood. This has reference to engineering skill and economy of dispositioiiiand in no manner imposes a limitation upon my invention.

For the purpose of this specification, I

have described the treatment of coke; but,

I desire it distinctly understood that my invention is not limited to coke treatment, butis adapted for the treatment or manipulation, discharge and conveyance of any other kind of granular materials, such as coal,

ore, quartz, crushed stone, etc. .However, the features of my invention are partlcularly adapted to frangibleor friable materials or substances, since, by controlling the feed of the-material, as by the pocket feeder, and controlling the discharge of g 'the material from the wharf to" the feeder and the manner in which the feeder deposits the'material upon the conveyer, such mate rial is prevented from being ground, or crushed, or unduly broken by contact of its particles during manipulation. The form of the feeder, moreover, contributes, in great,

I I f the conveyer, under therotary feeder, another series of measure, to this result as well as the cooperative relation of the conveyer and the feeder, since, by providing a rotary pocket feeder, arranged as shown and described, and employing a troughed conveyer, the cooperative relation of the two can bemade more or less intimate, thus reducing to the minimum the drop from one to the other. These are all important features of my invention, and upon them I desire to lay great stress.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v 1

1. A wharf having an inclined bed, in combination with a conveyer arranged below and extending longitudinally of the lower end of the bed, means for transferring material in measured quantities from the bed to the conveyer, and means for controlling the delivery of the material to the transferring means, said controlling means being arranged in proximity to the transferring means and comprising an upstanding skeleton frame structure pivotally supported at its lower end outwardly beyond and having a portion overhanging the lower end of the bed, and a series of upstanding gate fingers rigidly supported by said overhanging portion to provide a vertically-movable barrier between the bed and the transferring means.

2. A wharf having an inclined bed, in combination with a conveyer-arranged below and extending longitudinally of the lower end of the bed, means for transferring material in measured quantities from the bed to the conveyer, and means for controlling the delivery'of the material to the transferring means, said controlling means being arranged in proximity to the transferring means and comprising an upstanding skeleton frame structure pivot-ally supported at its lower end outwardly beyond and having a portion overhanging the lower end of the bed, and a series of upstanding gate fingers rigidly supported by said overhanging portion to provide a vertically-movable barrier between the bed and the transferring means, the lower ends of said fingers being bent outwardly in relation to the bed.

3. A wharf having an inclined bed, in

combination with av conveyer arranged below and extending longitudinally of the lower basal portions extending between the transferring means and the bed, parallel bars conend of the bed, means for transferring manectingthe two frame members, and a series of upstanding gate fingers rigidly supported by said bars to provide a vertically-movable barrier between the bed and the transferring means.-

4. A wharf having an inclined bed, in combination with aeonveyer arrangedbelow and extendin longitudinally of the lower end of the be a rotary feeding drum journaled at the bottom of said bed and extending longitudinally thereof, said drum being provided with -a plurality of circumferentially arranged pockets extending lengthwise thereof, means for rotating said drum, stationary guards at the ends of the drum,

and means for controlling the delivery of the material from said bed to the drum, said controlling means comprising an upstanding skeleton frame pivotally supported at its lower end on the said guards and having a portion overhanging the bed; and a series of upstanding gatefingers rigidly supported by said frame to provide a vertically-movable barrier between the bed and the transferring means.

'1 combination with a conveyer arranged below and extending longitudinally of the lower end of the bed, a series of rotary feeding elements arranged in end to end relation. to each other at thebottom of'said bed and ex.- tending throughout the length thereof, said elements being each provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged pockets, means for rotating said elements, stationary guards'at the ends of said elements, a series of independently movable gates arranged end toend-lengthwise of the vwharf at the lower end thereof and corresponding in number to the feeding elements, each of said gates including a-frame pivotally supported on the adjacent guards and having a ortion overhanging the lower end of the ed, and a series of up-standing gate fingers rigidly supported by said overhanging portion to provide a vertically movable barrier between the'bed and the adjacent feedin element.

CLARENCE K. BALDWIN. 

